When the food pantry opens to needy people this morning at Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke, Bekah Clawson hopes supplies won't run out again -- as they did Thursday.

"We gave out food for 112 people, and that was all we had. Fortunately no one was turned away," said Clawson, the church's minister of music and liaison to the food pantry program. By 10 a.m. today, when the pantry is scheduled to reopen, Clawson said, "We'll have more food."

The food pantry program at Rosalind Hills Baptist is one of about 350 collaborating programs in a 26-county, 10-city region served by the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. As the economy has worsened in recent months, programs that partner with the food bank have seen demand increase sharply, said Jeremy Butterfield, a spokesman for Second Harvest.

On Saturday at Rosalind Hills Baptist, about 450 people lined up when the church held its annual Christmas giveaway of boxes that contain the makings of a traditional holiday meal, including a canned ham. The crowd, which began forming 30 minutes before boxes were handed out at 10 a.m., numbered 50 percent more than the turnout a year ago.

"I think even more people would be here, but I know some whose pride won't let them," said Tiffanie Robertson, whose hours working at an express mail delivery company have been limited after she hurt her foot several months ago.

She came Saturday with her daughter, Shayla, 7, and son Jermaine, 14. Like the others, they were served a breakfast of hot biscuits and gravy in the church fellowship hall while waiting for their food boxes.

"It means a lot to know there are people who care for you. It's tough to get by when you're only able to work a few hours a week," Robertson said.

Butterfield said the food bank is getting "an influx of donations" during the holiday season, but he expects contributions to drop later in the winter. With demand likely to increase, the state's network of seven food banks is asking Gov. Tim Kaine and the General Assembly to provide $1 million for an emergency food purchase program.

The state assistance could provide more than 671,000 pounds of food, said Leslie Van Horn, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

"It's not going to fix the problem, but it will alleviate it somewhat," Van Horn said.

But the request comes at a time when the state faces a budget shortfall of at least $2.5 billion, a deficit that already has led to layoffs and could force cuts in education and health and human services.

Van Horn said she realizes the state has a budget crisis. But, she said, "we owe it to the children and families in Virginia to help them during these challenging times."

Van Horn said the food banks are trying to meet demand through donations from food manufacturers and retailers and monetary contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations. But escalating food prices and a declining economy are making it difficult, she said.

"My real concern right now is what's going to happen come January or February when those heating bills get really high," Van Horn said.

Virginia's state government does not fund food banks. And, because of recent revenue shortfalls, it has stopped providing support for an array of nonprofit programs. Van Horn said the food banks have asked for state help the past two years.

Kaine said last week that he had not heard directly from the food banks but was aware of their emergency funding request. He said the food banks might be a special case because of their mission.

"I think that the safety net providers -- many of them, food banks and others -- are going to have a challenging time," Kaine said. "And while all aspects of the budget are going to get touched, we're trying to do what we can in the safety net areas to have it not be too tough. I'd have to look at their request to see what's likely."

Van Horn said she plans to discuss the request with Marilyn Tavenner, the state secretary of health and human resources.

Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, said lawmakers could have a tough time finding funds for the food banks. He suggested that state assistance be tied to an assurance of matching support from the private sector.

"There's a big hole and a big deficit in the budget," Ware said. "But at the same time, whenever there's a deficit, people suffer."

Clawson said that some of the supplies distributed by Rosalind Hills Baptist are purchased from area supermarkets at discounts. "But this year the stores can't afford to give us as many discounts."